Automobile door



Feb; 12, 1929. 1,701,574 J. LEDWINKA AUTOMOBILE DOOR Filed April 11, 1923 2' Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

JosEPl-l ZEom/vm. MTNESSI" BY i W TORNEYI Patented Feb. 12, 1929.

UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE.

fJ'OSEPH LEDWINKA, OI PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A SSIGNOH TO EDWARD G.

' BUDD MANUFACTURING GOMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A COR- PORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

' auromonmn noon.

Application filed April 11, 1923. Serial No. 681,256.

My invention relates to improvements in automobile doors and has to do, more particularly, with doors for use in connection with automobile bodies and constructed entirely of metal.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an automobile door constructed entirely of metal and which is very light but, nevertheless, stiff, strong and durable so as to withstand satisfactorily the hard usage to which such doors are usually subjected.

A further object of my invention is to provide an all-metal door of such construction as to permit the use of aluminum, .'or other light metals, throughout practically the-enthe door construction.

Another object of my invention is to provide an all-metal door construction including for the door latch mechanism.

A further object of my inventiomis to provide an all-metal door construction including a cast metal frame to which a sheet meta door panel is applied 'andsecured.

Further objects, and objects relating to details and economies of operation and construction, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow. In one instance, I accomplish the objects of my invention by lowing specification. My invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the appended claims. A structure constitutin a preferred embodiment of my invention is i lustrated inthe accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which: I

Fig. 1 1s a new 1n elevation of a door embodying my invention, the view being taken v looking at the outer side of the door.

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation looking at the inner side of the door.

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of the dpor, frame with the door'p'anel removedpth'ere from, thisview being taken looking at the outer side of the frame, that is, the side nearestto the door-panel.

. 'Fig. 4 is a detail, sectional view, taken on the line 4-4 of Figs. 2 and. 3, and, showing the connectionbetween the upper marginal pora door frame having an improved mounting the devices and means described in the foltion of the door panel and the frame and, also, the mounting for the latch mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a detail,sectional view, taken on the line 5-5 of Figs. 2 and 3, and showing the connection between the upper marginal portion of the door panel and the door frame.

Fig. 6 is a detail, sectional view, taken on the line 6-6 of Figs. 2 and 3, and showing the connection between the door panel and one edge of the door frame and the means provided in the door frame for mounting a hinge. i

Figs. 7 and 8 are detail, sectional views, taken on the lines 7'7 and 8-8, respectively, of Figs. 2 and 3, and showing the connections between the lower portions of the door panel and the door frame.

Fig. 9 is a detail, sectional view, taken on line 99 of Figs. 2 and 3', and showing theformation of the door frame to receive a curtain rod, and p 1 Fig. 10 is a detail, sectional view, taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 3, and showing the means for connecting the male dovetail member to of a pair of sheet metal panels secured together with the body portion of one panel offset from the other, so as to form a chamber between the two panels, and the outer panel secured to the inner panel by folding or bending the edge portions of the outer panel over a projecting lip at the edge of the inner panel. These doors have been given the requisite strength and stiffness by pressto ing the inner panel into such shape that it acts as "a reinforcingmember, reinforcing and strengthening the outer panel, which is curved and finished to conform to the contour of the automobile body. In accordance with my present invention, I ropose to employ a single sheet metal pane and-to apply andsecure the some to a metal frame 1n such manner, and with a metal frame of such character and construction, as to secure lightness as well as stiffness and strength in the I also propose to form the upper edge of the door with an attractive finish and, at the same time, provide means to which the usual upholstery for the inner surface of the door may be fastened. To accomplish this, I propose to so construct the top member of'the door frame as to permit the door panel to fold smoothly over the upper edge thereof, and

p I provide means on saidtop member to receive and form a support for an upholstery tacking strip, and I utilize said strip also as a means for securing the folded-over upper edge of the panel. It is customary to provide a curtain rod carried by the upper portion of the door, near the free edge thereof, to which the storm curtains may be fastened, so that a section of the storm curtains may be moved aside, with the opening of the door, to provide ingress and egress from the automobile without unfastening the storm curtains. It is among the purposes of my invention to provide improved means, in an all metal door construction, for supporting such curtain rods and, to this end, I propose to provide the door frame with a socket or seat to receive a curtain rod. It is another purpose of my invention to provide means for mounting the hinges on the door of such a nature that the means for fastening the hinges to the door will be readily accessible, so that the hinges can very easily and quickly be removed.

In carrying out my invention, in one practical form of embodiment thereof, I employ a'door frame, 11, the shape of which is determined by the shape or contour which is to be given the door. In the example shown, the door frame is of generally rectangular shape and, along its bottom and sides, is provided with a marginal web, 9,.which extends transversely to the plane of the door. This web constitutesthe bottom and vertical side edges of the door structure. The inner edge of the web, 9, is formed with a flange member or extension, 16, atright angles .to the web body. The purpose of this flange member or extension is to impart stifiness and strength to the door frame. The web, 9, is formed, at intervals, with enlargements or bosses, 12,150 receive screws, 14, by which svenient manner.

batten strips, 13, are secured against the outer 10, is applied to the outer surface of the frame and is secured thereto in any suitable or con- In the arrangement shown, the batten strips, 13, extend laterally beyond the outer edge surfaceof the web, 9, and the bottom and vertical side edges of the door panel are bent over and clinched upon the laterally-extending edges of the batten strips, as indicated at.15, thereby not only covering and concealing the door frame, 11, but also the batten strips and the means by which said strips are secured to the frame. This structure also provides the door with a marginal .stop flange'to overlie the adjacent edge p011- tions of the automobile body which form the door opening. 7

Several important major advantages grow out of this organization of'elements. First, it is not practicable to cast metal in extremely thin sections. It is nevertheless desirable to have the marginal stop flange or overlap of the door of very thin section so that the ex terior of the body may be free from deep recesses and pockets at the meeting lines of the doors and the body paneling. The thin rolled metal batten strips 13 take the place of what might be a thin flange on the Webs of the onepiece cast-metal skeleton frame. The difficult and impracticable casting of thin flanges is therefore avoided. Instead of locating a .cast flange at this point, therefore, the cast flange 16 is located on the inner face of the frame. Here, it strengthens the cast frame to the same extent as it would if formed on the outer edge of the body web, but here it may be made of thick section, since thinness is of no especial moment. Here, too, it is of structural, as well as, strengthening advantage in that it establishes the inner face of the door' and forms a mounting for the inner panel or upholstery. Still further, the body web 9 together with the inner face flange 16 constitute an angle section for. the top, bottom and side rails of the one-piece, integral structure, and together with the batten strips 13 on the bottom and side rails, and together with the inturned integral flange 18 on the top rail, they constitute the frame section a v Z-section, of particular advantage in that the transversely extending web of the section constitutes the stop flange or overlap and the inner arm 16 constitutes the foundation for the upholstery or inner panel attachment, so that such a section 'is an ideal combination for lightness and adaptability.

- In order to provide a neat and sightly appearing finish for the upper edge of the door, the surface of the top member or rail of the door frame, against which the door panel is applied, may e given any desired shape'in transverse section. In theform shown, the

. as indicated at 18, and the panel isapplied to said curved surface. The top edge ofthe panel may be folded over the inner edge of I the frame top rail and secured thereto in any suitable or convenient manner. In the arrangement shown, to which my invention is not to be-limited orrestricted, I form the top rail of the frame with an inwardly opening channel, 19, into which the folded or bent over upper edge of the door panel is received. The bent over edge of the door panel may be wedged into the channel, 19, and held therein in many different ways. A simple arrangement is shown wherein the upholstery tack-.

ing strip, 35, is employed for this purpose. This strip, in the'structure shown, .is fastened to the top member or rail of the door frame by screws or other fastening devices, 37, and the upsolstery, 38, usually employed to cover the inner face of the door, is secured at its upper edge to said strip.

If desired, and in order to still further strengthen the top rail of the door frame, said rail may be formed with a longitudinallysextending', outwardlyopening channel, 17, as shown in Fig. 5.

Various arrangements may be provided to form a mounting for the door latch mechanism. ll have shown one simple illustrative arrangement wherein the side member of the frame, adjacent the free edge of the door,

K is formed with an enlarged or ofi'set portion, 20, which is recessed as indicated at 21. The

door latch plate carrying the latch mechanism is received and accommodatedin the recess, 21, and is fastened therein, in any convenient manner, as, for instance, to seats or shoulders, 22, provided at the corners of said recess. In order to permit the latch bolt to operate through the free ed e of the door, the

edge portion of the frame adjacent the mounting for the latch plate is cut away, as indicated at 24, see Fig. 3. To strengthen the frame at this cutaway portion, a laterally and outwardly offset bridge piece, 23, is formed on the frame at this point,-see Figs. 3 and 4, so both the web!) and the flange 16 are ofi'set to provide a mounting for the doorsecuring device, in this case the look.

It is customary to operate the door latch mechanism by means of a spindle which extends transversely throu h the door andearries the usual handles. 0 accommodate such a latch operating spindle, I provide he frame with a suitable and convenient spin 'le bearing indicated at 26, in a boss, 25, with which the frame is provided.

Various provisions may be made for receiv ing and supporting a curtain rod on the door frame. One simple and illustrative arrangement for this pur ose is shown wherein the inner surface of t e top rail of the frame is formed near the free edge of the door with a vertical tapering seat or groove, 27, see Figs. 2, 3 and 9. v A plate, 28, is secured over 'this seat or groove and cooperates therewith to form a vertical socket to receive andsupport the lower end of a curtain rod. If desired,

ae thimble or sleeve, 30, flanged, as at 29, over the upper edge of the door, may be inserted into the upper end of the socket, 27, to form a neat finish therefor. This feature, how.- ever, may be dispensed with.

It is customary to equip the free ed es of automobile doors with a dovetail mem er to cooperate with a corresponding member on the body at the door opening in order to secure and insure the proper alignment of the door when it is closed. In accordance with my invention, I provide a mounting for the dovetail member on the door frame. In the illustrative arrangement shown, see Fig. v1O, the frame web, 9, at. a convenient point at the free edge of the door is formed with a recess or offset indicated at 31, in

which the dovetail member, 32, is received and secured. The nut on the bolt, 34, which secures the dovetail member, 32, in place, is accessible from the innerside of the door to permit the removal and replacement of the dovetail member.

The door hinges may be mounted in many different ways upon the frame. I have shown one simple illustrative mounting wherein the web, 9, of the frame, at suitable points'along the hinge edge of the door, is provided with transverse openings, 8, see Fig. 6, through which are received the shanks of hinge members, 39. The nuts, 40, by which said hinge members are secured to the door frame are accessible from the inner side of the door for removal or replacement of the hinge members.

T have found it convenient, practical and desirable to produce the door frame by casting it, and in order to secure lightness I have used a cast aluminum frame and'an aluminum paneLalthough, obviously, my invention is not to be limited or restricted in this respect.

A door structure such as above described 1 is not only stiff, strong and durable but it is also remarkably light. It will be seen that I avoid the necessity of welding or soldering the'door panel. This greatly reduces the'cost of construction and is particularly advan-.

tageous and important where aluminum is;

employed for the panel and frame on account of the difficulties encountered in successfully soldering or welding that metal. ,..It will also be seen that I not only provide simple and efficient means for securing the top edge of the panel to the top rail of the frame but I also employ the. same means for securing the upholstery for the inner surface of the door. I am also enabled to secure a very strong and rigid mounting for the latch mechanism as the mountings for all these parts are readily'accessible from the inside of the door said parts are readily and easily removable and replaceable when so desired.

Many variations and changes in the details of construction and arrangement will readily occur to persons skilled in the art without departure from the spirit and scope of my invention. I do not desire, therefore, to be limited or restricted to the exact details shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A. door for automobile bodies compris mg a cast metal frame conforming to the shapev of the door, said frame having an offset portion forming a supporting base for door latch mechanism, and a sheet metal panel applied externally to said frame and having marginal portions secured to the frame at the edges thereof.

2. A door for automobile bodies comprising a cast metal frame conforming to the shape of the door, said frame having an offset portion forming a supporting base for door latch mechanism, the edge portion of said frame being cut away adjacent said supportmg base and said framehaving a reinforcing portion bridging said cut-away por tion, and a sheet metal panel applied externally to the frame and having marginal portions secured to the frame at the edges thereof.

3. A door for automobile bodies comprising a cast metal frame conforming to the shape of the door and having an enlarged port on at one edge provided with seats to receive a latch plate and a recess to accommodate the latch mechanism carried by. said plate, the edge portion of said frame being cut away to permit passage of the bolt of K said latch mechanism and said frame having a portion bridging the recess and offset to pass around the latch mechanism, thus reinforcing the framework at this point, and a sheet metal panel applied externally to said frame and having marginal portions secured to the frame at the edges thereof.

4. A door for automobile bodies comprising a cast metal frame conforming to the shape of the door and provided with an offset portion formed to support the latch mechanism and a second offset portion form ing a bearing for a latch actuating spindle,

co and a sheet metal-panel applied exterhally to said frame and having marginal portions secured to the frame at the edges thereof.

5. A door for automobile bodies comprising a cast metal frame conforming to the shape of the door and having a marginal web extending transversely to the plane of the door, said web having a glurality of bosses formed therein, a separate y formed and applied metal strip secured to one edge of said web and extendlng beyond said web substantially parallel to the lane of the door, screws threaded into said osses and securing the strip to the web, and a sheet. metal panel applied externally to said frame and having a marginal portion thereof clinched over the projecting edge of said strip.

6. A door for automobile bodies comprising a cast metal frame conforming to the shape of the door and provided with a top rail having an outwardly-facing channel and an inwardly-facing channel, a sheet metal panel applied externally to said frame and having its upper marginal portion bent over said top rail and into said inwardly facing channel, and means for securing said portion of the panel therein.

7. A door for automobile bodies comprising a cast metal frame conforming to the shape ofthe door and having a top rail provided with a substantially vertical groove therein, a plate secured to the side of said top rail and closing said groove, thus forming a curtain rod socket, and a sheet metal panel applied externally to said frame and having marginl portions secured to the frame at the edges thereof.

8. A door for automobile bodies comprising a cast metal frame conforming to the shape of the door and including a marginal web extending transversely of the plane of the door, said web having an opening therethrough adapted to receive the shank of a hinge member secured to said web, and a sheet metal panel applied externally to said frame and having marginal portions secured to the frame at the edges thereof.

9. In a door structure for automobile bodies, a metal door rail having an offset latch supporting base formed in the body thereof.

10. In .a door structure for automobile bodies, a metal door rail having an offset latch supporting base and an offset journal bearing for the associated latch operating spindle, both formed in the body of the rail.

11. In a door structure, a metal frame formed with a longitudinally-extending channel in the inner face of thetop rail thereof and a metal panel having its upper marginal edge flanged over said top rail and secured in said channel.

12. In an automobile door, a horizontal rail having an upwardly and inwardly curved flange, and upholstery secured to said rail beneath the rear edge of said curved flange.

13. In an automobile door, a horizontal rail having an upwardl and inwardly curved flange, outer paneling clinched over the free edge of said curved flange, and upholstery secured beneath the clinched por- 15. A one-piece perimetral skeleton frame tion of said paneling. for automobile doors comprising integral 10 14. In an automobile door, a cast metal top, bottom and side rails, provided with inskeleton frame embodying rails of Z shaped tegral ofisets for the mounting of the door 5 cross-section, the body web and one arm of securing devices.

which are ofintegral cast metal and the In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature. outer arm of which is separately formed of rolled metal and secured thereto. JOSEPH LEDWINKA. 

